Federal investigators have begun criminal probes into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey, according to Department of Justice sources. These cases stem from concerns about how intelligence was handled during the 2016 U.S. election and afterward.
Brennan’s investigation was triggered by evidence sent to the FBI by CIA Director John Ratcliffe. DOJ insiders say the FBI reviewed the referral and decided to move forward with a criminal inquiry. Specific charges have not yet been revealed, but the case appears to involve statements Brennan made to Congress.
As for Comey, sources say a separate investigation is also underway. Details remain sealed, and it is not yet known what exact actions are under review. However, insiders say the FBI believes both cases may involve a broader plan between the two men, which could lead to multiple charges.
So far, neither Brennan nor Comey has issued a public response to these developments. Both the FBI and the CIA have declined to comment on the investigations.
The spotlight on Brennan comes just days after the declassification of a CIA review. This internal review examined how the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) was created. That document had concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win. However, the new review found flaws in how the ICA was built.
The report stated that the process was rushed and included steps that broke standard intelligence rules. A key concern was the inclusion of the Steele Dossier. Officials now say the decision to use this unverified document violated core intelligence methods. They believe it weakened the trustworthiness of a major judgment in the ICA.
The Steele Dossier was a report filled with unsupported claims about Trump. It was paid for by Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and the Democratic National Committee. Though once cited in key government reports, the dossier has since been debunked by multiple investigations.
Last week’s review marked the first time that career CIA staff have confirmed that political influence, especially from Obama-era leaders, shaped the 2017 ICA.
Newly declassified records also show that Brennan supported including the Steele Dossier in the ICA. This stands in contrast to his recent sworn testimony. In May 2023, Brennan told the House Judiciary Committee that he did not think the dossier should have been part of the report.
The conflicting statements raise questions that federal investigators are now trying to answer. If Brennan knowingly pushed for a discredited source to be included in an intelligence document, it could support claims of misconduct.
While the full scale of both investigations remains unclear, DOJ sources describe the situation as potentially involving a conspiracy. This could open doors to further charges, depending on what the evidence shows.
Both Brennan and Comey played central roles in the early stages of the Russia investigation. As new information surfaces, their actions during that time are now facing serious legal review.
